Latch for electric-switch boxes



1,681,850 B. E. GETCHELL LATCH FOR ELECTRIC SWITCH BOXES Filed June 14,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR t c'lzell,

Benjam Aug. 21, 1928.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 2l, 1928.

B. E. GETCHELL LATCH FOR ELECTRIC SWITCH BOXES Filed June 14, 1926 BenPatented Aug". 2l, 1928.

UNITED L STATES PATENT oFFlcE.'

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL, F PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB T0 THE THUM-BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

LATCH FOR ELECTRIC-SWITCH BOXES.

Application led .Tune 14, 1928. Serial No. 115,811.

My invention relates to a construction involvln'g the latch mechanismprimarily inl tended for switch boxes of large size.

One object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and practicalconstruction which wlll securely latch the box when it is closed andwhich can be readily released for the purpose yof opening the box.

Another object is to provide a substantial .and dependable latch whichwill securely hold the cover closed against all internal pressure such,for instance, as the blowing of the fuses or a short circuit in the box,

which latter frequently causes such an explosion as to force the doorviolently open and thus endangers nearby persons as well as property.

Another object is to provide a substantial latch construction whichmaybe depended upon to securely hold the cover closedA even though thecover be loosely tted to the box.

Another object is to provide a latch normally controlled by a spring butso proportioned and designed that it will etlectually operate eventhough the spring becomes displaced or broken.

Another object is to re-inforce the comparatively ythin metal of thecover so that itmay be positively and securely latched.

In carrying out the invention in its preferred orm, `I provide a boxhaving a hinged cover and a special handle and latch'constructlon whichis adapted to alrtomatically latch the box when the cover is closed andin which the latch can be 'readily released in the act of grasping thehandle for opening the box. f

Fig. 1 is a front view of an electric switch A box embodying thepreferred form of the improvements of my invention, one form of switchmechanism being indicated in dotted lines, the switch being in theclosed circuit position.

Fi 2 is a side view of the same showing t e switch in the open circuitposition, a part of the cover being broken away to show the latchmechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end view and partial section showing-the latchmechanism.

The box 5 and cover 6 may be made of any suitable material such as sheetsteel and preferably having the cover hinged at 7 -"-7 at one side.

The switch mechanism is ordinarily mounted on a base 8 suitably securedinthe box. In the particular form shown, the switch has a stationaryswitch contact jaw 9 and a hinged member 10. It may also have a suitableprotective fuse 11. The switch may be operated by means .of a cranksuitably pivoted in the box and connected to the hinged switch member 10and provided with an external operating handle or lever 13. The detailsof the switch mechanism, however, are unimportant to the presentinvention.

The latch member 14 is pivoted at 15 -to one side of the box beside awall thereof. The outer end 16 of the latch is preferably angled tofacilitate its cooperation with the cover. The inner end 17 isconsiderably heavier than the outer end of the lever so that thetendency of gravity is to raise the outer end. This preponderance ofweight may be conveniently provided by lsimply making the latch out'ofsheet met-al having a larger area in real-'of the pivot 15 than in frontof it. Such a latch, therefore, is comparatively thin and occupies butlittle space within the switch box. IV also preferably provide a tensionspring 18 which is secured to the wall of the box andthe outer arm ofthe latch member 14 so that it tends to pull the latch member outwardlyagainst a stop on the side wall of the box. The weight of the inner end17, however, is suiiicient to ordinarily keep the latch in its operativeposition even though the spring 18 should become broken or inoperative.A

The cover of the box is provided with an opening 19 through which theend 16 of the latch member 14 is adapted to pro]ect.

The cover is provided with a handle 2O i which may be secured to thecover of the box,

is grasped in a natural manner and the thumb used to press down upon theend 16 of the latch member so as to-release it at the same time that thecover is openedby simply pulling on the grip portion of the handle. Thecover may be closed by snnply pressing 1t into the position shownin,F1g. 2 duringwhich operation the outer end ofthe latch-Will lprojectthroughA the opening 19 and snap into place by gravity assisted by thespring 18. The outer end of the latch member may be provided'withanopening 24 to accommodate a padlock or other locking or sealing means.

The covers of large switch boxes are sometimes diicult to open onaccount of the cover binding on the edge of the box. The handleconstruction I have shown serves to reinforce the cover and also enablesthe operator to grasp the handle in the most effective manner, using thestrongest part of his hand and fingers, and to apply the openingforce atthe most eicient point.

I claim 1. A latch construction for an electric switch box, said boxhaving a cover hinged to said box and said cover having a latch opening,a handle member secured. to said cover adjacent said opening and havinga latch en` gaging extension, a latch member pivoted in said box, saidlatch having a shoulder for engaging with said handle extension when thecover is closed, and a counterweight extension and a spring for normallymoving said latch.

2. A latchfconstruction for an electric switch box including a hingedcover with a handle gri at one edge and a latch opening adjacent tllipivoted in said box and provided with a hooked end adapted to interlockwith one edge of said opening when the cover is closed, and a spring forclosing said latch. 5

3. A latching mechanism for an electric switch box having a cover hingedthereto and having a latch opening, said mechanism comprising a handlemember secured adjacent said opening and having an extension reinforcingsaid opening, a latch member pivoted ereto, a counterweighted latch insaid box and' having a shoulder cofactin with said extension When saidcover 1s close and both spring means and gravitational `grip and acounterweighted portion forcausing latching movement of said latch andspring means for normally operating said latch. f

5. A latch construction for an electric switch box, said box having aflanged cover` hinged to one edge of the box and said cover having alatch opening at the edge op osite the hinged edge, a handle havingspace ends secured to the cover adjacent one of its flanges, one of saidends being secured adjacent said latch opening and having a grippingportion extending substantially parallel with the edge of the cover andadapted to be gras ed by the lingers of one hand, a latch pivote to aninner side Wall of the boxand movable in a plane substantially parallelthereto and having a hooked end projecting through said opening when thecover is closed and having a thumb piece adapted to be engaged andretracted by depressing the thumb While the handle is grasped by thefingers of the saine hand and means for automatically moving the latchto hold the cover when the hooked endof the latchprojects through theopening in the cover.

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL. j

